clave

¹ American  

[kleyv] / kleɪv /

verb

Archaic.

1. simple past tense of cleave.

---

clave ² American  

[klah-vey] / ˈklɑ veɪ /

noun

1. one of a pair of wooden sticks or blocks that are held one in each hand and are struck together to accompany music and dancing.

---

clave ¹ British  

/ kleɪv, klɑːv /

noun

1. music one of a pair of hardwood sticks struck together to make a hollow sound, esp to mark the beat of Latin-American dance music

---

clave ² British  

/ kleɪv /

verb

1. archaic a past tense of cleave 1

---

clave ³ British  

/ kleɪv /

noun

1. zoology a clublike thickening at the upper end of an organ, esp of the antenna of an insect

---

Etymology

Origin of clave

First recorded in 1925–30; Latin American Spanish, Spanish: “keystone,” from Latin clāvis “key”

Example Sentences

Hints of Cuban clave rhythms, Tin Pan Alley harmonies, Jewish melodies and piano licks swim through its overarching Romantic theme.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2024

Pero continúa importando muchos componentes clave de China, desde dispositivos de memoria hasta cables especializados.

From New York Times • Feb. 3, 2023

But Mark Morris, perched on a stool and clacking out the rhythm with a pair of clave sticks, finds plenty to quarrel with as he oversees this rehearsal of his new work.

From Washington Post • Oct. 21, 2022

De acuerdo con directivos de Langebio, pertenece también a varios comités clave de la institución, incluyendo uno que evalúa el desempeño de otros investigadores principales.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 5, 2021

He stood for a few moments transfixed; his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth; his feet seemed fastened to the floor.

From Miser Farebrother, Volume I (of 3) A Novel by Farjeon, Benjamin Leopold

Related Words

• hew
• sunder